The tan female pit bull mix was found in a parking lot outside the East Carolina Heart Institute at 101 Heart Drive about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a news release said. It was panting, heaving and showing obvious signs of heat distress when Animal Control officers responded.
Animal Control called police to the scene to remove the dog and identified the car’s owner, April Nicole Smith, 31, of 201-A Kristin Drive. They discovered Smith had a warrant for her arrest in Carteret County for leaving the same dog in the car the previous week.
Smith was charged at the scene on Wednesday with one count of animal cruelty, the news release said. The dog was taken to East Carolina Veterinary Services for a medical examination by Dr. Linda Kuhn.
Kuhn reported that the dog was stressed and panting heavily. The dog was treated and released to the custody of Greenville Animal Control, the release said.
Animal Control has a zero tolerance policy for animals left unattended in cars, the police department reported.
Officials encouraged animal owners to leave their pets at home if they know in advance they may have to be left unattended. Even on a cloudy day, a pet can die very quickly from heat exhaustion, the news release said.
Citizens are encouraged to contact police when they witness an animal left unattended. Never presume someone has already called authorities, the release said.
Police also served several outstanding warrant against Smith for unrelated cases, including assault inflicting serious injury, assault on a child under 12, and simple assault.
She was jailed in the Pitt County Detention Center under a $12,500 secured bond.
(Reflector - July 3, 2014)
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